On December 16, 1773, 251 years ago today, John Dickman of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, participated in one of the most famous events in American history: the Boston Tea Party. In a demonstration of colonial revolt against British rule, American patriots—some disguised as Mohawk Indians—dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.

John Dickman, who was born in Hopkinton about 1749 or 1750, was among the several hundreds estimated to have participated in this key event. Although secrecy was the name of the game for many of the players who kept their participation a secret for fear of getting in trouble, Dickman’s part in the events has been documented, and he is one of the 116 known participants.

Dickman’s Involvement

His son-in-law, Colonel Artemas Fay, said that Dickman later described the event, including that “the great long chests went splash into the sea,” years after the fact. To use his name when other members were also alive was against the participants’ agreement even if he was not directly involved in the action.

Life and Service

Outside the Tea Party, later in life, Dickman was a study in patriotic service:

• He saw the Boston Massacre in 1770.
• He smuggled arms out of Boston during the British occupation of the city.
• He fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• Dickman served at Dorchester Heights during the British engagement.

Dickman returned to Hopkinton after his service and, along with his wife Phoebe Gibson, raised ten children on their family farm.

Legacy

John Dickman died in 1833 at the age of 82, and his remains were buried in Evergreen Cemetery off Wood St. in Hopkinton. He was recently honored for his role in the Boston Tea Party, which helped spark the American Revolution.

A special ceremony and commemorative marker were presented to Dickman by the Boston Tea Party Participant Grave Marker Project on August 27, 2023, commemorating the Tea Party.

John Dickman’s story reminds us that history is also the story of individuals whose contributions paved the way to America as we know it.

John Dickman’s home was located beside Fruit St., near the intersection with North St. The cellar hole remains, and the history and location are demarcated by an informative sign, another example of the excellent work of Harrison Bograd.